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30 Jul, 2025
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Tonight's rugby news as Wales told to 'be brave' amid shake-up and international killed in stabbing
@Source: walesonline.co.uk
These are your evening rugby headlines on Wednesday, July 30. Tributes have been paid to a rugby player after he was named as one of the victims of a horrific quadruple stabbing in London on Monday afternoon. Brendan McMillan and his father Terry McMillan were both fatally stabbed in what is believed to have been a 'targeted' attack in Southwark, which saw emergency services rush to the scene at around 1pm following reports of multiple stabbings inside a commercial property. Terry, who was 58 and the director of the Trademark Property Group, died at the scene, while three other people - including Brendan - were rushed to hospital. Tragically, however, the 27-year-old - who played rugby for Blackheath RFC and previously represented Jamaica at international level - later died from his injuries. A British man in his thirties has now been arrested on suspicion of the murders of both men, with the suspect still in hospital but no longer in a life-threatening condition. Another man also remains in hospital, but his condition is also not believed to be life-threatening. Tributes have since poured in for Brendan from the Jamaica Rugby Football Union, with its director Hughton Campbell describing him as "a force of nature" and "well-loved" within his team. "The Jamaican rugby community has been left in profound sadness and disbelief following the tragic and untimely passing of Brendan McMillan," he told The Standard. “Brendan was a force of nature both on and off the pitch. He was always at the centre of all things great with Jamaica Rugby and extremely popular with the players, staff, and supporters. “Brendan was well-loved within the team and always led by example. You knew when Brendan was around: his big smile, his infectious laugh and his extreme compassion and kindness towards his teammates. "His sudden loss leaves a void impossible to fill," Campbell added. "In the scrum, in the changing room, in the hearts of all who played with him and to the whole rugby family." Jamaica RFU's chairman Anthony Johnson also paid tribute as he said: "It’s never easy to lose a family member, and it’s especially difficult when that family member’s life was taken senselessly. “Our hearts and prayers are with his family as our rugby family mourns the tragic death of such an outstanding human being.” Wales Women head coach Sean Lynn has told his players to "be brave" after making seven changes to his side ahead of their second Test against Australia. Lynn's side recorded a historic 21-12 victory over the Wallaroos in Brisbane last Saturday, as the Swansea-born coach got his first win since taking charge of the national team ahead of the Women's Six Nations . They are looking to make it two wins from two in Sydney on Friday, with another victory set to give them a major boost ahead of the Women's Rugby World Cup which kicks off later in August. Lynn has rung the changes, however, as he looks to make sure that every one of his players gets some game time Down Under. No.8 Alex Callender and flanker Kate Williams will co-captain the side for the first time in Sydney, while wing Jasmine Joyce will win her 50th Wales cap as she lines up in a back three that also contains last weekend's Player of the Match Nel Metcalfe and wing Lisa Neumann. Courtney Keight partners Carys Cox in the centre, with Kayleigh Powell and Keira Bevan making up the half-back pairing. In the forwards, an all-new front row sees the talismanic Sisilia Tuipulotu make her long-awaited return as she lines up alongside Gwenllian Pyrs and Carys Phillips, while Abbie Fleming and Gwen Crabb are in the engine room and Callender and Williams join Bethan Lewis in the back row. “We have celebrated our historic win in Brisbane, but we went back to work on Monday with the second Test in Sydney our focus," said Lynn as he named his side. “We know we will face a wounded Wallaroos side determined to make a statement in front of their home crowd in Sydney. “The squad were told before we came out that every player will get game time here in Australia and that is why we have made seven changes to the starting line-up. “The seven players selected have been told to be brave and to build on what we achieved in Brisbane and stake a claim for World Cup places," the head coach added. “Jaz winning her 50th Wales cap is another significant milestone for a player who has been a trailblazer for the women’s game, and we all know how much it will mean to her and her family.” Wales: Nel Metcalfe; Jasmine Joyce-Butchers, Carys Cox, Courtney Keight, Lisa Neumann; Kayleigh Powell, Keira Bevan; Gwenllian Pyrs, Carys Phillips, Sisilia Tuipulotu, Gwen Crabb, Abbie Fleming, Kate Williams (co-capt), Bethan Lewis, Alex Callender (co-capt). Replacements: Molly Reardon, Maisie Davies, Jenni Scoble, Alaw Pyrs, Georgia Evans, Meg Davies, Lleucu George, Catherine Richards. Wales internationals Alex Cuthbert and Tom Shanklin have had their say on the controversial Jac Morgan incident that has dominated headlines since the British & Irish Lions' dramatic second Test victory over Australia. Morgan found himself at the centre of controversy after his challenge on Wallabies flanker Carlo Tizzano at a ruck helped to set up Hugo Keenan to score a last-gasp winning try, which not only sealed a remarkable comeback victory in Melbourne but also secured the series win for Andy Farrell's men. The clearout was reviewed by referee Andrea Piardi and the TMO, who both deemed it to not be illegal and allowed the try to stand, but that decision sparked fury in the Wallabies camp with Joe Schmidt claiming that it did not " live up to the big player safety push that [World Rugby] are talking about”. It has been the subject of much debate in the days that have followed, but now Cuthbert and Shanklin have given their take on the matter, with the latter suggesting that Farrell's side were "lucky" that the "50/50 call" went their way. "When I saw it in slow-mo, I thought they could, quite easily, call that as a penalty, off-feet," said 2013 Lions tourist Cuthbert as he offered his view on the latest episode of the Scrum V podcast . "When you technically look at where he has hit him - underneath his shoulder and up - and how low Jac is, it's not a lazy clearout, it's a pretty technically perfect clearout. "I thought they are definitely going to give the try now. The more replays they were showing... I was with Ben Kay and Andrew McKenna at the time, and they were thinking they could actually give a penalty here. "Thankfully, Piardi knows the game of rugby. If that's a penalty, the whole game changes, doesn't it? Because how many time would that happen in a game? Probably 50, 60 times. We'd be in real trouble if that was given as a penalty." Shanklin then replied: "You've seen a lot of the clip on social media, but you don't see it in real time. If Tizzano is over that ball for a little bit longer and Jac Morgan comes in, then I would say that would probably be a penalty. "But, I think they arrive around the same time. Tizzano's got his hands down, crabbing around the outside. When you watch it in real time, it just looks like they're both competing for the ball, they both go low, it is just a collision, which you are allowed to do. "I think he got it right, but I can also see why the Australians would be a little bit upset by it, because it is a bit of a 50/50 call. You've seen penalties given like that in games, and you've seen it play on. "So, I think we're just quite lucky that we got that 50/50 call. The worst thing is that was the outcome of the game, right at the end. If that was in the middle of the game, then no one is talking about it, because it affected the score." Cuthbert then asked Shanklin if he thought that Tizzano's reaction to the hit "heightened it", to which the former Wales centre said: "No, I think everyone does that now. Most people do it. "If you're hit in the head, you are going to stay down or make the TMO/referee aware of it, which means they then have to look back and make a decision."
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